Saturday, February 05, 2011

Time is always of essence when it comes to averting disasters. Montrealers are still not safe from infrastructure problems more than 18 months after the tragedy that started with the crushing death of Lea Guilbeault on 2045 Peel Street under the Residence Inn by Mariott Hotel.

How long are Montrealers to wait?

From the Gazette 5 February 2011

QUEBEC NEEDS TO PICK UP PACE
The provincial government is taking its sweet time drafting new regulations for Quebec's building code. Until the new rules are established, the city of Montreal can't get on with a much-needed program to identify buildings "at risk" of endangering the public and force their owners to file regular inspection reports.
Montreal was made horrifyingly aware of the problem of decaying buildings when in July 2009 a concrete slab fell from a Peel St. building, crushing Lea Guilbeault. Quebec City should realize this is a serious public-safety issue and act accordingly.

This is from an editorial with title

And another thing...
Concise comments on the issues of the day

To send a letter of support to the Gazette for reporting on this delay or to make your opinion on the tragedy know, please go to http://bit.ly/mtlgazette

Why would these bylaws be stalled? The author (James Mennie) quotes the Mayor of Montreal (Mr. Gerald Tremblay) saying that Montreal's bylaws would be more focused (than those of in New York city local law 11) and that:

A coalition of building owners in the province has already complained the proposed amendments are simply more government red tape

Besides complaining about having to maintain their own buildings, I would be interested to hear what these building owners propose to stop having blocks of cement or glass raining on top of the heads of people.

We, the citizens of Montreal, should not have to live through a similar nightmare.

If you have any comments, please send them to the editor of the Gazette ( http://bit.ly/mtlgazette ) or contact me.